Thank you, Madam Chair. Earlier today, I raised the issue of only year one and year two of apprenticeships being covered, and I have read somewhere where it said that in years three and four, government expected that these apprentices would basically pay their own way. I can tell you right now that that is not the case. With the economy the way it is, a lot of small employers, if they have apprentices working, they will keep them on if they know they are getting that subsidy; they will keep them on, even if they do not have enough work, and maybe have them do other things. The subsidy is very, very important, and I think you need to know that, and I think it should be expanded to years three and four. I think it might have been like that before. I am not sure, but I would urge your department to look at, at least consider, in year three and possibly year four because it's like anything else. It's like going to university. You go for four years. When you come out, you still don't know anything, and, if you think you know it, then you don't know anything. It's the same in this case, as well. I think it's important that we give the apprentices every opportunity to succeed, and it's important that we also make sure that the employers who are taking a chance on them are provided that same opportunity. I am not sure if there is a question in there, but they can comment. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Rocky Simpson
Legislative Assembly photoRoles
In the Legislative Assembly
Elsewhere
Crucial Fact
- His favourite word was know.
Last in the Legislative Assembly October 2023, as MLA for Hay River South
Lost his last election, in 2023, with 30% of the vote.
Statements in the House
Thank you, Madam Chair. Are you considering changing that ratio, as well, to, say, maybe three or four or five apprentices per journeyperson? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess my understanding is the ratio is kind of two apprentices per journeyperson. Is that the ratio that is allowed right now? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Madam Chair. One of the problems that I guess I found with the trades programs or with the trades, I guess, in itself, is that we do not have enough tradespeople to provide the ticket for which the apprentices can work under. Is there any intent or any interest in your department looking at other methods to make this happen? For instance, my understanding is that you have to have somebody on payroll, which to me means you pay somebody one dollar a year remuneration and that should be sufficient; would that be an option? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Madam Chair. If the wage subsidy program is not used up, what happens to the funds that are sitting there? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess I should have looked at it. I didn't have my glasses on. With respect to the trades subsidy of $1,072,000, is that allocated by region or by need? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm on page 51, and trades and occupations wage subsidy. I see in 2018-2019, it was 655, and it got bumped up to almost double next year. What was the reason for that? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes. That is my concern, that building is old, not that old. I worked in there when I was 12 years old. Anyway, it does need work. There are a lot of good things in there. There is a lot of participation, a lot of volunteers. We have also expanded. The operation has been expanded to include a part of the old Hay River hotel, which needs work, and more room, as well, for artifacts or for crafts and for those type of items. I would encourage your department and the Cabinet, as well, to look at how we can maybe provide more funding to the regions to expand. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I think part of our priorities is tourism and increasing tourism outside Yellowknife. Is the department going to look at increasing the amount of funds going to these regional centres? Again, I will use Hay River as an example. The heritage centre had applied for $180,000, but that was through ITI. They got it knocked down to less than half. I am wondering if they can go to one pot and to the other, which might be this one, to get some more money, because I think there is a real opportunity there on the tourism side in the smaller communities, but we have to have something to give the tourists when they arrive. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Madam Chair. If I can get those numbers of exactly where the money lands after the applications are decided on? Next area I would like to talk about is the heritage centres. I think, in there, we are talking about emerging heritage centres. I think about Hay River with our little centre there. Does the department encourage the preservation of artifacts in the local and regional communities, and how so? Hay River, for instance, I will use that as an example. We have had people bringing in artifacts and different items, and we store them there. The funding that I see that you have allocated here is $491,000, which doesn't appear to be a lot of money. Is that for Yellowknife, or is that for other organizations or communities, as well? Thank you, Madam Chair.